Transcript
Page 1: Did you say … eccentric?

+ Reading comprehension+ Work in pairs & communicate orally+ Attitude towards weird habits in the USA

Page 2: Did you say … eccentric?

icing

gather

grab

gloppy

pooped

bakery

loiter

coddling

stand-in

slobber

potty training

pitter-patter

spouse

Page 3: Did you say … eccentric?

icing

gather

grab

gloppy

pooped

bakery

loiter

coddling

stand-in

slobber

potty training

pitter-patter

spouse

sucre glassejat en un pastís

reunir (-se)

agafar (un objecte)

Viscós, xiclós

fatigat, cansat

forn de pa (+ pastisseria)

perdre el temps, gandulejar

mimos, cures mimoses, mimitos

suplent

babejar

aprendre a fer pipi

repiqueteo, sorollet de cops

cònjuge, consort

Page 4: Did you say … eccentric?

icing sucre glassejat en un pastís

gather reunir (-se)

grab agafar (un objecte)

gloppy Viscós, xiclós

pooped fatigat, cansat

bakery forn de pa (+ pastisseria)

loiter perdre el temps, gandulejar

coddling mimos, cures mimoses, mimitos

stand-in suplent

slobber babejar

potty training aprendre a fer pipi

pitter-patter repiqueteo, sorollet de cops

spouse cònjuge, consort

Page 5: Did you say … eccentric?

Activity 1: Look at the headline and read (or listen to) paragraph 1.

What seems to be going on? □ a girl’s birthday party □ a wedding ceremony □ a cake competition

Page 6: Did you say … eccentric?

It ___________ that a little girl called Sophie is celebrating her 4th birthday by eating cake and ____________, singing and opening __________ with a friend called Duncan, a group of other little ____________ and some adults. The “homemade” cake with red icing, the camera, the birthday song, the fact Duncan takes food from another guest’s plate, the opening of gifts by the girl – all of this ________ the reader think the article is about ___________.

Complete the text with the suitable words from the box:

children ice-cream makes seems gifts guests 

seems

ice-cream gifts

guests

makes

children

Page 7: Did you say … eccentric?

What is actually taking place? (choose the right option)

□ Actually, a girl called Sophie (and her parents) has organised a birthday party.

□ Actually, Sophie and Duncan (and half of the other guests) are not children but dogs.

□ Actually, Sophie and Duncan are 4-year-old children.

□ Nowadays, Sophie and Duncan are not children but dogs.

Page 8: Did you say … eccentric?

What is the meaning of the expression “a party animal” in line 9?

□ it means a party for animals, where the guests are animals (pets).

□ it’s a word game; meaning a person who is used to going to a lot of parties.

□ it’s a word game; meaning a person who organises parties.

Page 9: Did you say … eccentric?

1. 2. 3. 4.

Activity 4: Find 4 names of places in paragraph 2.

Seattle Hong Kong Asia America

Page 10: Did you say … eccentric?

in paragraph 2.

the journalist’s recent life:

the cultural differences she observes:

her reaction:

Write full sentences. Describe (& sum up):

She has just arrived in Seattle.

She has spent a few years in Hong Kong.

A great number of Americans treat their dogs like kings.

Asian people prefer to cook and eat dog rather than stroke it.

She is stunned by the contrast in the treatment of dogs shown in the two regions of the world.

Page 11: Did you say … eccentric?

Home life Festivities Medical and psychological treatments

Activity 5: Read paragraph 3. What has changed for dogs in America? Write notes:

doghouse

master

bedroom

Sleep in same

bed

Owner takes

allergy pills !!

weddings

dressed in

tuxedoes

Halloween

party

Dressed as

dragon

Eat luxury

food Expensive

gifts

Chinese

medicineVitamin

supplements

looked after

by people

with M.A.s in

educational

psychology

Page 12: Did you say … eccentric?

It’s no longer ___________ correct to call the person to whom the dog belongs “owner” of the dog, because dogs are referred to as “ __________”. The journalist explains that this need to consider one’s pets as one’s family is no doubt _________the fact that more and more Americans are __________ – they are staying _____or have decided not to have children.

Complete the text with the suitable words from the box:

childless family politically due to single

politically

family

due to

childless

single

Page 13: Did you say … eccentric?

Activity 7: Which family members can dogs replace?

Children!

!

They are pleasant to look at!

They show a lot of affection

Dogs have similar

habits!

Husbands

or wives!!They can help people to

overcome sadness!

Page 14: Did you say … eccentric?

The very human is revealed.The dog’s very human need for

of the radio programme.

The reader thinks human beings are the subject

medical treatment in order to keep calm.

Gradually, the dog’s identity

name of the dog (Emily)

Activity 8: What’s the link between the radio programme (mentioned at the end of the text) and the end of the text? Match the parts of the sentences:

Page 15: Did you say … eccentric?

Identify the type of document, the author and the source of the text.

     

This document is an article published in the

magazine “Newsweek” on the 13th of January

2003. The author of the article is unknown.

The article is illustrated with a photograph; it

is an advertisement for Visa Gold which is a

bank card. It is an ad because we can see the

logo in the top right-hand corner and a slogan

at the bottom.

Page 16: Did you say … eccentric?

Activity 9: Read the slogan at the bottom of the photo. How can you link it with the text? Explain its double meaning.

 

    

Firstly, it means that people with

money can do as they wish.

Secondly, even if they are not rich,

people who have the Visa Gold card can

do exactly what they want.

Page 17: Did you say … eccentric?

What do you think about these weird

attitudes?